Multicultural family law facilitators project.

• Author: Kumar, Nayanika

Project Description

This article briefly describes the Multicultural Family Law (MFL) Facilitators project developed by United Cultures of Canada Association, Family Law Office (Legal Aid Alberta) and ASSIST Community Services Centre with financial assistance provided by the City of Edmonton--Community Services. In the first phase of the project, a training program was developed. Ad hoc interpreters often fail to show up, or interpret so poorly that the evidence is lost. Many do not understand their professional obligations or legal liability. The first group of Multicultural Family Law Facilitators received training to provide legal interpreting at court and non-court legal events and cultural education in relation to family law in the following languages: Arabic; Cantonese; Dinka; French; Hindi; Lingala; Malayalam; Mandarin; Punjabi; Spanish; Swahili; Tami; Tagalog; Tshiluba and Urdu. A second group is currently undergoing training to offer services in Persian, Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, Polish and German. These services are available free of charge until the end of June 2014. The training of the Facilitators is based on the guidelines provided by the National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services, published by Healthcare Interpretation Network in 2007 to "promote the highest quality of interpreting when adopted for assessment, training, hiring, performance monitoring and possible future professional recognition."

Introduction

Following the economic boom in 2007, Edmonton recorded a population growth rate of approximately 12%. The article "Edmonton Indicators 2006-2011 Census Population: Edmonton Population Growth Accelerates" indicates that, in this period, Alberta was the "fastest growing province" led by Calgary, Edmonton, and Wood Buffalo. The report, "The Way We Live: Edmonton's People Plan 2010" notes that the city has welcomed 135,000 people in the past decade and is now home to "over 50 international cultures and 70 unique ethnic groups."

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (s. 14) grants every citizen the right to the services of an interpreter during court proceedings.

The article "Misinterpretation: Crisis in Canadian Court Interpreting" discusses an important aspect of changing demographics: "As Canada becomes more multicultural, a shortage of skilled interpreters is creating major problems with the administration of justice in courtrooms across Canada." Further, "fwjhen 3.4 million Canadians speak...